National News

WASHINGTON — Average U.S. long-term mortgage rates edged lower this week, approaching their lows for the year. The benchmark 30-year loan rate hovered near 4 percent. Mortgage company Freddie Mac said Thursday the nationwide average for a 30-year mortgage slipped ...

WASHINGTON — U.S. companies ramped up hiring in September, and more Americans were confident enough to quit their jobs — two signs of an improving economy. The number of available jobs declined but remained at a healthy level. More than ...

The interest rate pendulum has swung in favor of homeowners again. A steady decline in recent weeks brought down the average rate for a 30-year fixed home loan below 4 percent to 3.92 percent this week, the lowest level in ...

NEW YORK — For stocks on Monday, the path of least resistance was up. The Standard & Poor’s 500 index and the Dow Jones industrial average both edged up to all-time highs on a day that was light on economic ...

ANDERSON, S.C. — When Interstate 85′s four lanes quietly opened on Sept. 8, 1964, South Carolina’s first interstate highway drew little fanfare. Miles from downtown Anderson, the road opened without ribbon-cutting, political speeches or extensive news coverage. It was described as ...

WASHINGTON — Just after a midterm election that was driven by voters’ anxiety about the U.S. economy, the government is likely Friday to report the latest strong monthly job gain. Employers are expected to have added 230,000 jobs in October, ...

NEW YORK — Sears Holdings’ stock skyrocketed in premarket trading after the struggling retailer said it’s considering selling about 200 to 300 of its buildings to boost its liquidity. The move would entail the company forming a real estate investment ...

WASHINGTON — Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen says the Fed is striving to clearly communicate its intentions on interest rates in order to minimize surprises that could disrupt financial markets both in the United States and globally. She says central ...

WASHINGTON — Fewer people applied for U.S. unemployment benefits last week, adding to signs that the job market should continue to improve. The Labor Department said Thursday that weekly applications fell 10,000 to a seasonally adjusted 278,000. The four-week average, ...

WASHINGTON — Government-controlled mortgage companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac posted profits for the July-September period as the U.S. housing market continued to recover. Gains in recent years have enabled them to fully repay their government aid after being rescued ...